Our Team

Attorney

Candace joined DRNC in 2021 as a staff attorney on the CASE team. A native of North Carolina, Candace received her undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University and her law degree from UNC School of Law. While in law school Canda…

Chief Financial Officer

Brad Spivey joined DRNC in January 2018. As chief financial officer, he oversees accounting and financial management functions for the agency. Spivey, who brings many years of experience in nonprofit accounting to DRNC, is a North Carol…

Assistant Legal Director for Litigation

Holly Stiles is a native of Asheville, North Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill and a J.D. from New York Law School. She started practicing law in New York City but soon realized she is not a forever New Yorke…

Investigator

Ashleigh Swayze joined DRNC in August 2021. Her work focuses on investigations involving Social Security beneficiaries and their representative payees. Swayze has over 10 years’ experience in the social services field. Prior to comin…

Senior Advocate

Debbie Thome came to DRNC in 2007 via Carolina Legal Assistance, where she first worked on the Thomas S. class litigation and then on the Special Education Juvenile Justice Project. She now splits her time between representing children to…

Project Manager (contract position)

Craig Waleed, EdD joined Disability Rights North Carolina in May 2022. He serves as project manager for Unlock the Box Campaign Against Solitary Confinement. Craig is an educator, counselor, certified Restorative Practices group faci…

Attorney

Lena Welch focuses on employment rights as a member of the community access team. Lena joined DRNC in August 2020 as a Kennedy Fellow on the education team. Welch earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and economics from the University of…

Investigator/Advocate

Charmaine joined DRNC in May 2023 as an investigator/advocate for the investigations and monitoring unit.  She graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Studies in 2013 and obtained her Mast…

Attorney

Luke Woollard joined DRNC’s prison and jails team in January 2019. He received his bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University. He attended UNC School of Law after spending two years in Americorps. Prior to DRNC, Woollard began his legal c…

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